Dustpan



Dkwz7,l939. R L$HEUER 2J79J35 DUSTPAN Filed Feb. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. FIG. 2.

INVENTOR RALPH L SCHEUER ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1939. R1. SHEUER- 2179.135

DUSTPAN Filed Feb. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH I. 'SCHEUER ATTORNEYS Nov. 7,1939. SHEUER 2.179.135

DUSTPAN Filed Feb. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RALPH LSCHEUER ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUSTPAN Ralph I. Sheuer, Two Rivers, Wis.

Application February 11, 1938, Serial No. 189,908

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to dustpans, and more particularly to dustpans of the self-opening and -closing type.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a dustpan, which can be conveniently and expeditiously used without making it necessary for the operator to bend over during the use thereof.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a sanitary dustpan embodying an upright manipulating handle having a rigid cover plate connected therewith, and a swinging body provided with a forward open end, the body being so balanced as to automatically swing to a closed position with the open end under the cover plate when the handle is lifted to permit the carrying of the dustpan, or the hanging up thereof on a hook, or the like.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel dustpan of the above character, which Will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved dustpan, showing the same in its open position on the floor.

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the dustpan in its raised position, with the body portion swung to its closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the manner of securing the cover plate to the carrying handle, and the body portion to the handle.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the dustpan, showing the same in its open position on the floor, the handle being broken away, with parts of the cover plate in section to illustrate structural details.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, through the cover plate and body portion.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view illustrating a slightly modified form of my dustpan, parts of the figure being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the cover of the dustpan.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter D generally indicates my improved dustpan, which comprises an upwardly extending handle I0. iron, or the like, and is of a substantially inverted V-shape in front elevation. Rigidly secured to the lower ends of the arms of the handle is the arcuate cover plate II. This cover plate II can be provided with side flanges I 2, which form a guard for the swinging body portion l3. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4, the arms of the handle extend below the front edge of the cover plate li,'and are provided with bearing openings It for receiving the pivot pins l5 carried by the semi-circular side walls It of the body l3. These side walls I 6 can be bent up from the bottom wall [1.

The top wall l8 can be formed on the rear edge of the bottom wall l1, and this top wall has formed on its side edges flanges l9, which are spot-welded, or otherwise secured, to the side walls It. The top wall I8 terminates short of the front of the body, so that the body will be provided with a front open end to permit debris to be swept therein. The extreme front edge of the bottom wall I! is bent slightly downwardly to form a lip 20, and the metal can be bent back upon itself so that the lip will be reinforced.

If desired, the side walls 16 at their upper edges, and at the open front portion of the pan, can be provided with a rib 2|, which serves to reinforce the side walls, and to prevent the formation of sharp edges. The lower edge of the cover plate I I can be provided with a similar head 22.

The lower face of the bottom wall H at its rear edge has welded or otherwise secured thereto rearwardly extending feet 23. The rear ends of the feet can be curved upwardly to provide manipulating hand-grips 24. These hand-grips also serve as floor-engaging members, to facilitate the opening of the pan, as will be later set forth.

It is to be noted, however, that when the pan is in its open position, the feet 23 abut the head 22, and thus the body of the pan and the cover plate are limited in their relative swinging movement in one direction.

This handle I0 can be formed from-strap In use of my improved dustpan, the handle I!) is grasped adjacent to its upper end, and as the rear portion of the body I3 is heavier than the front portion, due to the top wall [8, and the feet 5 23, the rear portion of the body will swing downwardly on the pivot pins I5. This will move the open end of the body under the cover plate I I,

and when the floor-engaging lip strikes the forward end of the cover plate, which can also be 1 provided with a head 25, further movement of the body portion is prevented. Thus, when the dustpan is being carried, or when the same is hung up on a hook, or the like, the dustpan is closed, and any debris collected therein cannot be upset therefrom.

When it is desired to sweep into the dustpan, the handle I0 is lowered until the hand-grip portions 24 engage the floor, and as the handle is further lowered the body portion l3 will rock on the lower ends of the arms of the handle, and

the body will automatically move to an open position. The body of the dustpan has a three-point contact with the floor, carpet, or the like, as

it will be seen that the body will rest on the lip 29 and the arms 23.

The side flanges l2 form a reinforcement for the cover, and fill up the space between the body and cover.

In Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, I have shown an- 0 other form of my invention. In this form I utilize a handle 30, which is preferably formed from wire of the desired gauge. This handle includes sections 3! and 32, which are united by means of removable bolts 33. By forming the handle in sections the same can be placed inside of the body 34 of the dustpan during the shipping thereof. Thus, the dustpan can be packed in a relatively small carton.

In order to facilitate the connection of the handle with the dustpan, I provide a laterally extending arcuate foot 35 on the lower end of the handle, and this foot is adapted to be received in a struck-up socket 36 formed on the central portion of the cover 31 of the dustpan. Suitable 45 removable fastening elements are employed for connecting the foot of the top wall of the socket.

In this form I also prefer to utilize rubber or like bumper plates 38 for eliminating noise incident to the closing and openin of the dustpan.

As illustrated, the front edge of the cover has formed thereon a depending lip 39 provided at spaced points with key-hole slots 40. The rubber bumper pads 38 are forced into the slots, and extend in opposite directions on opposite sides of the lip 39. The forward edge of the cover of the body portion 34 is provided with a similar bent down lip or flange M, which is adapted to strike the inner faces of the pads 38 when the dustpan is moved to its open position. When the body pf the dustpan swings to its closed position,

the floor-engaging lip 42 on the front of the body 34 is adapted to strike the front faces of the pads 38. The flange or lip 39 on the cover is cut away at its ends so as to allow the free movement of the side walls of the body, incidental to the opening and closing of the pan.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple and durable type of dustpan, which can be readily and conveniently manipulated.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A sanitary dustpan comprising an arcuate cover plate having flanges formed on its side and front edges, a handle secured to the cover, a body portion rockably mounted on the cover having a front open end, a floor-engaging lip formed on the front edge of the body, a depending flange formed on the forward edge of the top wall of the body, and bumper pads carried by the flange on the cover extending beyond the opposite faces of said flange adapted to be engaged by the lip when the body is in a closed position and by the flange on the top wall of the body when the body is in an open position,

2. A sanitary dustpan comprising an arcuate cover plate having flanges formed on its side edges and depending arms on said flanges, a body rockably mounted intermediate its ends on said arms at the lower ends of said arms, and a manipulating handle for the pan including a sectional rod, means securing the sections of the rod together, a laterally extending foot on said rod, a socket struck up from the cover receiving said foot, and removable fastening elements securing the foot to the socket.

RALPH I. SHEUER. 

